Ranking Virender Sehwag's Top 5 Innings for India

Ranking Virender Sehwag's five best innings was never going to be an easy task, but given that it is his 36th birthday October 20, let's have a go.

The only problem is there are quite a few to choose from. With over 17,000 runs and 39 centuries—11 of which were 150 or more—in international cricket, the inimitable opener has given bowlers, and cricket scorers for that matter, nightmares over the years.

But, trying to judge them on their individual merits rather than one attribute such as scoring rate, here they are. If you agree or disagree, please let me know in the comments section.

Happy birthday, Virender!

5. 219 vs. West Indies

Date: 8 December 2011

Location: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore

Runs: 219

Balls faced: 149

4s/6s: 25/7

It may have been a throwaway 50-over contest against the West Indies but those fortunate enough to witness Virender Sehwag's blistering knock won't forget it in a hurry.

Off just 140 balls, the right-hander scored the second double century in ODI history—going on to register the highest individual ODI of all time—to lead India to an unassailable 418 for 5.

Sehwag's first 50 came off 41 balls, the 100 of 69 balls, his 150 off 112 balls, leading Derek Pringle to label him the "the greatest slaughterer of bowling since IVA Richards."

4. 309 vs. Pakistan

Date: 28 March-1 April 2004

Location: Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan, Punjab

Runs: 309

Balls faced: 375

4s/6s: 39/6

Any clash between these two countries is played in a fever-pitch atmosphere, and given that is was India's first Test in Pakistan for over 15 years only magnified the pressure.

So scoring a triple century like Sehwag did in 2004 was a truly remarkable knock and helped his team register a significant victory.

The innings remains the highest-ever Test innings by an Indian and lasted a stamina-sapping and concentration-testing 531 minutes.

3. 319 vs. South Africa

Date: 26-30 March 2008

Location: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Runs: 319

Balls faced: 304

4s/6s: 42/5

When South Africa won the toss, batted first and racked up the small matter of 540 runs in this Test match, the pressure was well and truly on India. But nobody told Sehwag.

The all-action opener blasted the fastest triple century in Test cricket history...an attack comprising of Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel.

Sehwag scored 257 runs on the third day of the match—the most scored in single day since 1954—and put his country back on top and in with a chance of completing a remarkable victory (the game actually ended in a draw).

2. 195 vs. Australia

Date: 26-30 December 2003

Location: MCG, Melbourne

Runs: 195

Balls faced: 233

4s/6s: 25/5

Few batsmen have dominated the Australians at the MCG like Sehwag did in 2003, where he scored 195 on the opening day of the Test at breakneck rate.

The innings, which was more than 53 per cent of his side's total, included five bludgeoned sixes and was the highest-ever score by an Indian batsman at the MCG.

With the Aussies fighting back to win the match, the knock was all in vain, but it was a coming-of-age moment for Sehwag as a Test match player.

1. 201 Not Out vs. Sri Lanka

Date: 31 July-3 August 2008

Location: Galle International Stadium, Sri Lanka

Runs: 201 not out

Balls: 231

4s/6s: 22/4

The scorecard says it all. Sehwag's innings of 201 unbeaten runs came out of a team total of 329 where just two other batsmen managed to make double figures.

And while some of his other huge innings have been made on flat batting tracks, this one came on a track where wickets were falling regularly at the other end.

It won the ESPN Cricinfo award for best innings of 2008, and for good measure, Sehwag followed up with a half-century in the second innings as India romped to victory by 171 runs.